Courier Times
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| Mike Missanelli reportedly has accepted a full-time position with WB-17. The Bristol native will remain at WIP radio as well. | |
Missanelli replaces Mike Dardis, who became the news co-anchor, joining Toni Yates in October. Steve Highsmith, who lives in Bucks County, becomes chief political correspondent and host of "In the Know," Fridays at 10:30 p.m. Jenna Wolfe remains weekend sports anchor.
Missanelli, a native of Bristol and former Philadelphia Inquirer reporter, will continue co-hosting the WIP drive-time slot from 3-7 p.m. with Howard Eskin.
With the new TV season upon us, watch for Delaware Valley natives on most of the networks. Broomall's Adrian (real name Kayvan) Pasdar co-stars in "Mysterious Ways," on Pax Tuesdays at 8 p.m. Pasdar and his wife, Natalie Maines of the Dixie Chicks, are expecting their first child in spring of 2001. Roxborough's Kim Delaney begins her sixth and final season as Detective Diane Russell on "NYPD Blue" on ABC Tuesdays at 10 p.m. beginning in January. Delaney will leave the show for a new Steven Bochco Philadelphia-set drama beginning in the fall of 2001. Overbrook Park's Seth Green begins his third season as Oz on "Buffy: The Vampire Slayer" on WB Tuesdays at 8 p.m. Radnor's David Boreanaz, son of WPVI's Dave Roberts, begins his second season as "Angel" on WB at 9 p.m. Peri Gilpin, daughter of the late Jim O'Brien of WPVI, begins her ninth season as Roz on "Frasier" on NBC, Tuesdays at 9 p.m. Temple University's Jason George is in Aaron Spelling's "Titans, " Wednesdays on NBC at 8 p.m. Exton's Kerr Smith begins his second season as Jack McPhee on "Dawson's Creek," Wednesdays on WB at 8 p.m. South Jersey's Richard Riccullo begins his third season as Pete on "Two Guys and a Girl" on ABC, Fridays at 8 p.m. Philadelphia's Irene Molloy plays Hunter Fallow on the hilarious new series "Grosse Pointe" on WB, Sundays at 9:30 p.m. However, missing in action is Upper Darby's Cheri Oteri, who left NBC 's "Saturday Night Live" to pursue a film career.
Behind-the-scenes, Marta Kaufman of Broomall and David Crane (son of longtime Philly news personality Gene Crane) of Lower Merion move into their eighth season as the producers of "Friends," along with Kevin Bright. And former WCAU intern for Herb Denenberg, Gay Rosenthal, is the driving force behind the popular VH-1 show "Behind the Music," Sundays at 9 p.m.
Amy Wolfram, of Methacton High in Montgomery County, is the screenwriter for an episode of MTV's late night show "Undressed." Wolfram, who lives in California, previously worked for "King of the Hill" and "Buffy: The Vampire Slayer."
Philadelphia's Shawn Stockman of "Boyz II Men" is one of the executive producers of the upcoming Showtime original movie, "Seventeen Again," starring Tia, Tamera, and Tahj Mowry. Boyz II Men makes an appearance in the film that premieres on Showtime Sunday and will air throughout the month.
Bucks County pop star Pink and Michael Badalucco, "Jimmy'' on ABC's "The Practice," will lead the annual "6/ABC/Boscov's Thanksgiving Day Parade" on Nov. 23 at 10 a.m. Other celebrities in the parade will be on and off-screen married couple Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos of "All My Children," "The Trammps" ("Disco Inferno"), Olympic Gold Medal cyclist Marty Nothstein from New Tripoli, Pa., and Lisa Lisa (sans Cult Jam). Lisa (Lisa) Thomas-Laury and Dave Roberts host. The Robert K. Shafer Middle School Choir of Bensalem and the Sanctuary Choir of McKinley Memorial Baptist Church of Willow Grove will be among the area choirs performing.
One of the stars of "Saturday Night Fever," Karen Lynn Gorney, will be signing autographs at the South Jersey Movie, TV, Film, Toys, and Autograph Collectibles Show at the Cherry Hill Holiday Inn, Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Gorney played Stephanie, John Travolta's love interest, in the 1977 film. Linda Harrison of "Planet of the Apes" will also appear. Admission is $6.
NBC-10 will be providing free colorectal cancer screening kits at CVS Pharmacies and a toll-free number (1-877-622-9228) to answer questions through November. Katie Couric's husband, Jay Monahan, died of colon cancer more than a year ago.
NBC-10 presents "Holiday Magic at Longwood Gardens," on Nov. 24 at 7 p.m. Larry Mendte and Renee Chenault host the live one-hour special.
Laura Nachman TV column appears monthly. She can be reached at her web site "Brady Residence" at HTTP://www.geocities.com/bradylady
Tuesday, November 7, 2000